File, binder, or the like.



w. A. COOKE, JR.

FILE, BINDER, OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED APR.26,1915- 1,21 9,705. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: 1

I x M By A tz'orneys,

W. A. COOKE, JR. FILE, BINDER, OR THE LIKE. QWPLRCATION FILED APR. 2?}, 1915.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR WITNESSES WILLIAM A. cooks, in, ornnooknYn, ivEw YORK.

TILE, isnvnnn, on Tim LIKE.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. GooKE, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFiles, Binders, or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to files, binders, loose leaf books or the like, and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

In a prior patent granted to me onAugust 18, 1914, No. 1,107,657, I have shown and described a binder having perforating means comprising a plurality of perforating apertures preferably located in the cover of the binder, over which the sheet to be perforated is placed, a movable flap or the like having similar apertures being arranged to be pressed down over the top of the sheet, and the actual perforation being made by a pencil or other similar article. The present invention relates to this type of binder and provides a perforatingmeans which co-acts with the binding structure so that in the preferred form of the invention the file cover may be made imperforate. The invention also includes certain other features of improvement which will be hereinafter more fully described. I p

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several forms of the invention,

Figure 1 is a plan of a file or binder showing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View showing the clamping plate turned back; p v

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in position for perforation' Fig. 5 is a view on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1 showing the clamping plate turned back;

Fig. 6 is a plan of another form of the invention; v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 6 showing the clamping plate turned back;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 in Fig. 6; r

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010 in Fig. 6 showing the paper in the act of being perforated.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, let A indicate the binder as a whole, which usually Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 20, 19 17.

Application filed April 26, 1915. Serial No. 24,090.

comprises covers B and C- provided with a lower binding strip D carrying filing prongs E which are flexible, and which are adapted to be passed through the letters or other papers to be filed. An upper binding strip F is also usually provided, which is formed with slots G G (Fig. 2) which the filing prongs enter when the binder is closed. The prongs are then bent over the top of the binding strip F and are held in place by a clamping plate H. The clamping plate H is formed with apertures I I through which pass retaining bands J J, the proportions being such that the plate II can swing about the bands J J and can move forwardly and backwardly therein. The retaining plate is formed with a flange K (Fig. 3) which is adapted to hook under the edge of the binding strip F. To strengthen the binding strip a plate L is usually provided which is U- shaped in cross-section, and which is formed with notches corresponding to those shown at GG; It also is conveniently formed with the retaining bands J J. When the prongs E are bent down fiat along the binding strip F, the plate H is swung forwardly until it lies over the binding strip, and is then pushed back so that its flange K engages the edge of the binding strip or the corresponding edge of the plate L.

According to the present invention the perforating means is formed as a part of the binding means thus described. In this construction the notches G G constitute perforations or their equivalent adapted to receive the point of a pencil or similar article which may be thrust through the edge of the sheet to be filed when the latter is arranged above the notches. The plate H constitutes a clamp adapted to be pressed down over the paper sheet to be filed to hold the same in place while the perforation is being made, and also constitutes a guiding means for the pencil Or other instrument. To this end the plate H is formed with apertures or equivalent notches adapted to receive a pencil. Such apertures are shown at M M. In some position of the plate H such apertures M are adapted to aline with the notches G. In the construction shown the alinement takes place when the plate is swung over upon the prongs and before it is pressed back to engage its flange with the binding strip F. Such position of the parts is shown in Fig. 4, wherein it will be seen that the plate H has been swung over and occupies a position which is forward of its clamping position, so that the flange K and binding strip are not engaged. In this position, as shown in Fig. 4, a paper sheet 0 is clamped between the opposing surfaces and held in position whereby it may be easily perforated in the manner shown. The retaining bands J serve as a back guide for the sheet, so that all of the sheets are punctured a definite distance from their rear or filing edge.

In use, the sheet is located as illustrated in Fig. l, the plate H turned on its axis and held down by the operator, while at the same time the perforations can be easily made.

The construction thus described forms a part of an application filed by me Serial No. 24,087 of even date herewith, wherein I have set forth broadly a device in which the perforating means is formed as a part of or located at the binding means.

In Figs. 6 to 10 the clamping plate 11 is of somewhat difierent form, being hinged directly to the plate L. In this case the clamping plate is not capable of a shifting movement but turns around a definite axis. It is held in position by a catch P which when the plate is in clamping condition engages a tongue Q. The plate L is formed with notches G G, and the clamping plate H is formed with notches or apertures adapted to aline with the notches Gr G.

In the use of this construction the clamping plate is turned back to admit the paper sheet and then forwardly to clamp it, whereupon a pencil or the like may be passed through the apertures M l and notches G G. In the clamping movement the plate I-I' need not be carried so far as to engage the catch P. In either of the constructions shown the apertures (M or M) need not be closed on all sides, but may be in the form of notches.

While I have shown and described different forms of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A file, binder or the like having a filing prong and a clamping means for such prong, said clamping means comprising a hinged plate lying above the ends of the prongs when the latter are bent, said plate having an aperture adapted to admit a pencil or the like for perforating the sheet to be filed.

2. A file, binder or the like having filing prongs and a clamping means for said prongs, said clamping means comprising a hinged plate lying above the ends of the prongs when the latter are bent, said plate having apertures spaced apart substantially the same distance as the said prongs and adapted to admit a pencil or the like for perforating a sheet of paper to be filed.

3. A file, binder or the like having filing prongs, and a clamping means therefor comprising a hinged plate having apertures spaced substantially the same distance as the filing prongs and adapted to admit a pencil or the like for perforating a sheet of paper to be filed in said binder, and a notched plate below said clamping plate adapted to admit said prongs.

4. A file, binder or the like having filing prongs, and a clamping means therefor com- I'lS1I1 a bin ed late havin aertures h p b spaced substantially the same distance as the filing prongs and adapted to admit a pencil or the like for perforating a sheet of paper to be filed in said binder, said hinged plate adapted to move forwardly and backwardly, and having means adapted to engage a part of the binder on its rearward movement.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM A. COOKE, JR.

Witnesses:

A. T. GARLAND, M. S. MIDDLETON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

